Detonator composition



Sepfia 26, 1933. v s, 5, LARGE 1,928,207

DETONATOR coMPosiTIou Filed Nov. 18,1931

INVENTOR fiydveszc rli lame ATTORNEY atented Sept. 26, 1933 SylvesterB. Large, Tamaqua, lPa., assignor to Atlas Powder Company, :Wilmington, Del, a corporation of Delaware Application November 18, 1931' Serial No. 575,930

22 Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in detonators, such as are used for initiating charges of explosives.

Its object is new and improved primary detonator compositions, characterized'by satisfactory till detonating efliciency, by low cost and by being, toward friction, impact and heat, as safe or safer than any primary detonator composition heretofore known or used.

Primary detonator compositions are-characterized or defined as those which are capable of advancing from simple ignition to detonation, almost instantaneously, when charged into the confines of a suitable container orshell. Due to this characteristic, they are suitable for use either as the entire charges for so-called simple detonators or as the initiator, primer or booster charges for so-called compound detonators, in which are employed explosive intermediate and/or base charges, usually of the non-primary detonating type.

Until recently, super-sensitive types of explosives, as for example metallic fulminates, metallic azides, etc., have been considered requisite as ingredients for the primary detonator compositions of blasting caps, at least in appreciable proportions. Detonator compositions, containingthese types of super-sensitive explosives, are objectionable, on account of their high sensitivity to impact, friction and handling generally, which makes them very hazardous to handle, both in the detonator manufacturing process and in field use. Statistics show that every year an appreciable number of people, including children, are accidentally killed or maimed by handling or playing with detonators of this type.

In my copending applications Serial Nos. 502,559 and 502,560 and Serial No. 575,929, filed concurrently herewith, I have disclosed inventions, whereby new and much safer, less sensitive primary detonator compositions are produced and used in various kinds of detonators. These inventions have the supreme advantage of permitting such super-sensitive types of explosives, as

for example, fulminates, azides, diazodinitrophenol, etc., to be entirely eliminated from detonator compositions.

Now, according to my present invention, I have discovered still another means, whereby very efficient, yet safe detonators may be produced and used in a practical manner. These detonators, in accordance with my present invention, also avoid the use of such super-sensitive explosives as. for example, ites, azidea and the like, as

primary detonator ingredients, and the hazards of manufacture and use, involved therewith.

In accordance with my present invention, I use one or more solid nitric esters of one or more disaccharides, of which nitrolactose is an example,

as the principal ingredient or ingredients of the primary detonator composition in a detonator. In accordance with this invention, I find it necessary to employ a hot flame tongue ignition, in conjunction with my novel primary compositions, which may be any one of several general forms, as for example; (1) an unusually hot safety-fuse end-spit to ignite the primary detonator charge directly; (2) a pre-formed elecdetonator tric fuse or match-head (several types of which are already well known) for direct ignition; (3) a flash composition placed upon the primary charge for indirect ignition by means of ordinary safety-fuse or an electric fuse or match-head; (4) a flash composition, loosely placed upon the primary charge, for indirect ignition by means of an electrically heated bridge-wire embedded in the loose flash composition; etc. Further, it is most desirable that the primary detonator composition be pressed under an inner capsule and/or otherwise confined, in order to make for detonator reliability as well as to decrease the amount of primary charge, required to completely detonate a secondary charge when and if used therewith.

While I am fully aware that nitrodisaccharides have previously been proposed as ingredients for blasting caps or detonators, as for example in U. S. Patent No. 1,759,656 to Crater; in no case has anyone, to my knowledge, intimated or other- .wise disclosed the possibility of employing these materials as primary detonator compositions, without being admixed or associated with other primary detonator explosive compositions of the super-sensitive type, such as fulminate-chlcrate, lead azide, diazodinitrophenol, etc.

Primary detonating charges of 'the character disclosed herein operate with particularly greatefiiciency when the hot flash composition is disposed in spaced relation to the said charge because this permits the discharge of a tongue or spit of intensely hot flame upon the charge. One type of compound detonator embodying the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing where 5 designates the shell, 6 the secondary or base charge, '7 the primary or initiating charge, 8 an inner capsule and 9 a conventional type of electric match-head with lead-in wires 10 connected therewith. This drawing is submitted merely to bring out the fact that the ignitiim medium,

whether an electric match head or otherwise, lies in spaced relation to the charge, and this feature is applicable to either simple or compound detonators.

The following examples will serve to illustrate the many possible applications of my invention, with the understanding that they are not limiting.

(1) 0.2 gram of nitromannite is charged, as a secondary or base charge, into a blasting cap shell and pressed lightly into the bottom thereof by means of a metalpin 0.2 gram of nitrolactose, as a primary charge, is then charged on top of the nitromannite base-charge, a'perforated inner capsule placed thereon and the whole subjected to 50 pounds pressure on a metal pin. Over the pressed primary and base-charges is then assembled an electric match-head in the usual, well known manner. This type of assembly, when fired, consistently yields satisfactory lead plates and crushes an average of about 39 grams of standard 30 mesh testing sand, according to the well known U. S. Bureau of Mines standard test.

(2) The same as Illustration (1), but with a secondary or base charge of 0.2 gram of a 95%-5% mixture of nitromannite and tetryl and a primary charge of 0.2 gram of a 98 %2% mixture of nitrolactose and tetryl pressed thereon.

(3) The same as Illustration (1), but with a secondary or base charge of 0.1 gram of tetryl and a primary charge of 0.5 gram of nitrolactose, pressed thereon at 25 pounds.

(4) The same as Illustration (3), but with a primary charge of 0.5 gram of a 98.%-2% mixture of nitrolactose and tetryl.

(Detonators, assembled according to Illustrations (3) and (4), yield satisfactory lead plates and crush about 46 grams of standard, 30 mesh sand.) I

(5) The same as above illustrations, but with a suitable flash composition pressed on top of the primary detonator charges and without the electric match-head assembly; the ignition of the flash composition being effected by means of ordinary safety-fuse, inserted and crimped in the open ends of the detonators.

While the solid disaccharide nitric esters are capable of use in the detonation of a somewhat wide range of base charge materials, they are of particular utility where the base charge consists of the solid nitration products of polyhydric alcohols, such as nitromannite, nitrodulcite, for example. Other products of this sort which may be employed are pentaerythrite-tetranitrate, erythritol-tetranitrate, etc.

The solid disaccharide nitric esters, as described, will detonate with eificiency and reliability the solid nitrated products of polyhydric alcohols either alone or when these polyhydric alcohol derivatives are admixed with minor-proportions of one or. more of the following types of materials, namely; other types of organic nitrates, organic nitro bodies, stabilizers and inorganic oxygen carriers. Detonators of this character are very practical and economical, less than .2 gram, for instance, of nitrolactose serving as an initiator for a secondary charge of the char-,

acter described.

Although the solid nitrated disaccharides are, under the spit of a hot flame, direct initiators for the more commonly used base charge materials, such as for example tetryl and nitrostarch, they function in a less practical manner than where the secondary charge (i.e. the charge just beneath the primary charge, whether it be an intermediate or a base charge) consists essentiallyor entirely of one or more solid, polyhydric alcohol nitric esters. For example, about 0.5 of a gram of nitrolactose is necessary to initiate a secondary charge of tetryl.

It should be distinctly understood that the organic nitrates, specified as necessary to my invention, may be the ordinary grades of impure products, usually obtained from the nitration of the commercial forms of the required materials, which are prone to contain certain impure isomers, lowers nitric esters, etc. They may, however, also be the chemically pure organic nitrates, as obtained, for example, by crystallization of impure forms, from a suitable solvent or solvents. Nitrolactose, for example, may refer either to the octa-nitrate or it may include proportions of the lower nitric esters, mixed therewith.

It should also be distinctly understood that the organic nitrates, specified as necessary to my invention, may be stabilized in any suitable manner, by means of minor quantities of one or more stabilizing materials, without being outside the scope of my invention.

It should further be distinctly understood that my invention anticipates and includes the use of minor proportions of various kinds of certain admixed materials, in conjunction with the types of organic nitrates specified, as long as the resulting primary detonator composition will function, as such, in a satisfactory manner and without increasing the sensitivity of the composition to an appreciably hazardous degree. I contemplate, for example, the possible use of such sub stances as stabilizers, desensitizers, oxygen carriers, graining agents, dilutents, etc. as minor ingredients of the primary detonator compositions. Additive ingredients, as exemplified above, may be precipitated or otherwise suitably mixed with the principal ingredients of my novel primary detonator compositions. I prefer, however, to use the mutual precipitation method, where possible, in order to improve the uniformity and homogeneity of the composition and to permit its more thorough'and effective stabilization.

On.the other hand, I am fully aware that the use of super-sensitive explosives, as for example fulminates, azides, diazo-dinitrophenol, etc. admixed with the type of organic nitrates, specified in my invention, will also produce usable primary detonator compositions, but I wish to specify particularly that it is necessary to avoid appreciable amounts of these super-sensitive explosives, in order to be within the scope of my is to provide and use primary detonator compositions, which are relatively safe, and safer than any that include appreciable amounts of these super-sensitive types of explosives. Outside this particular class of substances, there is almost no limit to the number of substances, traces or minor proportions of which may be used either to advantage or without disadvantage, in conjunction with the particular type of organic nitrates, specified'as requisite, namely; solid nitrodisaccharides as the principal ingredients of primary detonator compositions.

It must further be understood that I may employ various types of confining shells and/or capsules in the application of my invention and I may employ any suitable, electrical or-other means for initiating or igniting my novel type of primary detonator compositions.

I also contemplate the use of these new and useful primary detonator compositions, as specified above, either as entire charges in simple" detonators or associated with intermediate and/or base charges of one or more suitable explosive substances in compound detonators; the said additional charge or charges being employed beneath the primary charges, in accordance withmy invention.

Having described my invention,what I claim is;

1. In a detonator, a primary detonator composition consisting of a solid disaccharide nitric ester.

2. In a compound detonator, a primary charge consisting of nitrolactose. A

3. In a compound detonator, a secondary explosive charge consisting of a solid nitration product of a polyhydric alcohol or mixtures of such solid nitration products, and a primary detonator composition containing as an essential ingredient a solid disaccharide nitric ester.

4. In a compound detonator, a secondary charge containing a solid nitration product of polyhydric alcohol, and a primary charge of a solid disaccharide nitric ester. I

5. A compound detonator comprising a secondary charge which includes a solidnitration product of apolyhydric alcohol, and a primary charge of nitrolactose.

6. In a detonator, a primary detonator composition, consisting. of nitrolactose.

7. In a detonator, a primary detonator composition containing a solid disaccharide nitric ester and a minor proportion of a nitro-aromatic explosive compound mixed with said ester.

8. In a detonator, a primary detonator composition consisting of nitrolactose and a minor proportion of a nitro-aromatic explosive compound mixed with said nitrolactose.

9. A detonator as recited in claim 8 wherein the said nitro-aromatic explosive compound consists of tetryl. Y

10. In a detonator, a primary detonator composition consisting of a solid disaccharide nitric ester and a minor proportion of a solid nitric ester of a polyhydric alcohol mixed therewith.

11. In a detonator, a primary detonator charge consisting of a solid disaccharide nitric ester and an auxiliary flash composition super-imposed directly upon the said primary charge as the ignition medium and delivering a flash hot.

enough to ignite the primary detonator charge.

12. In a detonator, a primary charge, consisting of one or more solid disaccharide nitric esters and an auxiliary flash composition located in spaced relation to the said charge and delivering a flash hot enough to ignite the primary detonator charge. I

13. In a detonator, a primary detonator charge, consisting of one or more solid disaccharide nitric esters, an auxiliary flash composition for direct ignition of the primary charge,

' and means for separating the flash composition from the said primary charge, said flash composition being of such nature as to deliver a flame hot enough to ignite the charge.

14. A compound detonator including a secondary charge consisting of a solid polyhydric alcohol nitration product, a primary charge consisting of a solid disaccharide nitration product, and a flash composition supported in spaced relation to the said charge, with a protective coating over the said flash composition, said flash composition being of such nature as to deliver a flame hot enough to ignite the charge.

15. In a compound detonator, a secondary charge including a solid nitration product of a polyhydric alcohol, a primary charge consisting of nitrolactose outwardly thereof, and a flash compositionsupported in spaced relation to said primary charge.,as and for the purposes set forth, said flash composition being of such nature as to deliver a flame hot enough to ignite the charge.

16. In a detonator, a primary detonator composition consisting 'in the main of nitrolactose and not as sensitive as to any of its ingredients with respect to friction and impact as mercury fulminate, diazodinitrophenol or lead azide. 1'7. In a detonator, a primary detonator composition consisting of a major proportion of one or more solid disaccharide nitric esters and a minor proportion of one or more solid explosives compatible with the said disaccharide nitric ester to an extent to adapt said solid explosive to constitute a component part of the primary detonator composition said solid explosive being less sensitive to friction and impact than mercury fulminate diazodinitrophenol or lead azide.

18. A detonator as recited in claim 1'1 in combination with a hot flash composition disposed outwardly of the primary composition and capable of delivering a flame hot enough to ignite the said primary detonator composition.

19. In a detonator, a primary detonator charge consisting in .the main of a solid disaccharide nitric ester and free of any substance as sensitive as to friction and impact as mercury fulminate, diazodinitrophenol or lead azide, and an igniting means outwardly of-said primary chargecapable of delivering a flash hot enough to ignite said primary charge.

20. In a detonator, a primary detonator charge consisting in the main oi! nitroiactose and free of any substance as sensitive as to friction and impact as mercury fulminate, diazodinitrophenol or lead azide, and an igniting means outwardly of said primary charge capable of delivering a flash hot enough to ignite said primary charge.

21. A compound detonator including a secondary explosive charge, a primary charge consisting of nitrolactos'e outwardly thereof, and a suitable ignition medium for the said primary charge.

22. In a detonator, a primary charge including at least one solid disaccharide nitric ester and an additive explosive ingredient less sensitive than mercury fulminate.

, SYLVESTER B. LARGE. 

